Scripture Passages: Psalms 8, 139, 103

The Bible affirms that life is sacred — that we are made in God’s image, that we are His special creation deserving of being treated with dignity and respect regardless of race, rank, or riches.

Every act of kindness as well as every act of violence that is committed in the world today is motivated by an underlying worldview and what that particular worldview teaches about the value of human life. What an individual believes about the value of human life can motivate them to either aggressively hurt others or to compassionately move in the direction of the hurting.

For too long, we have limited the scope of our understanding of the sanctity of human life to abortion alone. Abortion is indeed a violation of the sanctity of human life — but beyond this particular violation there are many others.

•  What are some other ways in which the sanctity of human life is violated in our world today?

As the primary faith trainers in their homes, parents must intentionally teach and model for their children what it means to value all human life — including their own. An individual who feels that their own life has little or no value is likely to have little or no regard for the welfare of their neighbor.

Our children must know that they are of inestimable value to God and to us. By so doing our children are more likely to affirm the worth of others, less likely to harm others, and more likely to stand against and to defend those whose lives are in danger.

• In what ways are you helping your children understand what it means to value human life?

• How are you guarding your children against media and messages that teach a disregard for human life?

• What can you and your family do to stand as champions for the value of human life?